May 26, 2012

Hello! Memorial Day Weekend is happening folks! Aside from BBQ’s and taking time to at least mentally honor and thank all of our veterans, this weekend is a reminder to make some good summer plans now, before the summer flies by and leaves the sting of fun not had. Nothing worse than a bleak look back from August to find that you never went camping, or used your kayak {not even once}, and didn’t have that one big bash in your backyard with all your friends. I’ve seen that vista and I no like.

We started our weekend off yesterday with a walk in the field behind our house where the fog was rolling in and every blade of tall grass was wet with dew.

Then we dried off by fire, which was cool to have going during foggy daylight!

Finally we went inside to make some goodies for eating later this weekend:

April 30, 2012

Strange bedfellows?

We are lucky to have our own symphony orchestra here in Portland. Many people I know attend their performances regularly, but apparently it took their doing the music of Queen to get me to attend! On Saturday night we went out with a few friends to hear the PSO take on Freddie Mercury and company. They are such a talented group and sounded beautiful, but the event was not exactly what we expected; for instance, there was a singer. Who invited audience participation. Who encouraged my seat-neighbors to belt out notes they couldn’t quite hit. The University of Southern Maine Choir joined in, too, and they helped round out the vocals. Here’s a snippet:

We had fun getting out and about with friends, and it made us both want to go back for a “real” PSO performance!

Like this:

April 16, 2012

Remember when I mentioned the Flea-For-All opening in Portland? Well, on opening day at 10am sharp I was there checking things out! There were two floors of vendors set up {I hear they’ll be adding more and rotating the line-up} and lots of people milling about. Very exciting! Jewelry, vintage clothing, old dishes & mugs, new lamps with funky designs, handmade pottery, aprons, and owl pillows. There were bicycles, records, and some furniture in the mix, too.

Everything was nicely edited. The highlight was Ziggy the Talking Clown! {It reminded me of the movie Big!}

The entire weekend was gorgeous and sun-filled. I started it by taking a walk around Mackworth Island with a friend:

Then a hike on Bradbury Mountain with another friend where some birders spotted an Eagle:

That tiny dot at the top of the photo is the Eagle. The sun was glaring down and I couldn’t see a thing so I literally pointed my phone camera in that direction and got what I could! Yesterday at my in-law’s house a mature Eagle took a break on the rocks long enough so we got a good look at just how large of a bird they are when they aren’t soaring up above. I guess over the weekend they were out cruising the skies while most of us were out combing the land, enjoying the weather.

April 5, 2012

Broadly speaking, Portland, Maine is often considered “the other Portland,” mainly because the one in Oregon is a larger city. Around these parts if you consider this one to be “the other one,” then you’re from away, and if you’re from here you wouldn’t even consider calling it that. {This could just be the hometown pride talking.} Part of me doesn’t mind that our city here is less well-known because that means we can keep it to ourselves.

Elvis Costello gets this same “other” status because let’s face it, when you’re The King of Rock-n-Roll you’re a hard act to follow. Presley, while I do like some of his music, has just never stuck with me. I’ve always liked Elvis Costello and if I ever find a t-shirt that reads “I love the other Elvis” I’m buying it.

All of this “other one” business is all relative anyway because some might agree that the positives of being somewhat of a little secret outweigh the negatives.

Like this:

March 26, 2012

Happy Monday: This is the first of many ‘Maine Things Monday’ posts to come! There is much to love and discover about Maine, and all that we have here, and I am eager to share it with you. In fact, I believe this is as much for me as it is for you.

There have been some fun happenings around Maine lately, mostly to do with maple syrup. Every March tons of sugarhouses celebrate the tradition of making maple syrup. They open up their operations to the public and share with us their passion for the art of tapping maple trees and making sweet syrup on what we call “Maine Maple Sunday.” It’s not only larger sugarhouses making syrup: lots of Mainers tap their own trees, too.

In our lovely city by the bay there are always hip happenings…and this one’s good:

In Portland there is a Flea-for-All opening next month! It’s genius and has me very excited! Vendors of various types {designers, sellers, artists, makers, i.e. interesting & talented folks} will set up shop in one large space. Portland can’t help but be so cool! Situated near Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Deering Oaks Park where the Saturday Farmer’s Market takes place {after May 1st} will surely help make the Flea-for-All a regular stop on a weekend. I can’t wait to score some furniture & whatnot for our house!

p.s. Now that iced tea & lemonade & camping season is upon us, I want this.

March 10, 2012

Did you know that Portland boasts a pretty great selection of amazing restaurants? Bon Appetit called it “America’s Foodiest Small Town” in 2009. Some of the more well-known restaurants include Fore Street, Hugo’s, and Street & Co.; they are all fantastic, but I tend toward more under-the-radar places.

One of my favorites is Caiola’sin Portland’s West End neighborhood {also my favorite ‘end’ of the city}. Getting the same dish there every time is sort of hard to resist: they make the best paella! They have a delicious burger and once a gnocchi special made me unbelievably happy! Walter’s is always my go-to place for drinks & the calamari with girlfriends.

If you visit the city and want to stay somewhere distinct, slightly tucked away, and indicative of this city’s celebration of art then you should consider the Pomegranate Inn {also in the West End}. It’s beautiful, whimsical, and elegant; every single room and nook and wall and thing in there is artfully selected or art itself. They have a veritable gallery throughout the halls & rooms! I promise you will love it there!

Something to take home & remember Portland by: Chart Metalworks makes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, cuff links and more using nautical maps of all places in Maine {and anywhere, really}. I gave my husband a key ring with a map of Popham Beach, where we were married.

Portland has it going on! It’s so dear to me and has grown to be a very hip, happening little city. This is the first of many Portland mentions and just a few of my recommendations…more later! Have a happy weekend!